How to write dialogue that draws readers in

Your characters’ words and thoughts should draw a reader in, not bore them to tears.

Louise Harnby often encounters eight problems with dialogue and thoughts that result in said tears, from new writers to veterans alike.

The repeat offenders:

• Maid-and-butler dialogue

• Real but mundane dialogue

• Written accented dialogue

• Troublesome tags

• Talking heads and monologues

• Too many vocatives

• Thoughts in speech marks

• Unlikely thoughts

Learn how to spot these weaknesses and fix them in your own writing on her blog.

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